4G Wireless
Your average cost-conscious tablet buyer shuns pricey cellular data plans, opting instead for a Wi-Fi-only slate with a significantly lower cost of ownership, according to a
study by The NPD Group's Connected Intelligence service. So it's no surprise that the majority of low-end, 7-inch slates, including the Kindle Fire, Nexus 7, and Barnes & Noble tablet, don't offer a 3G/4G option.
Amazon, however, is in a very good position to break with tradition and offer a cellular-ready Kindle Fire with an optional data plan. The retailer already sells 3G-enabled versions of its Kindle e-readers (with no monthly fees). Given the large bucket of bits data that tablet owners use each month, however, a Fire model with free cellular data service is extremely unlikely.
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